No One to Trust - Iris Johansen [86]
He disappeared into the trees.
Galen gazed after him in anger and frustration … and regret.
Damn him.
“Let me take him.” Galen reached out and took Barry from her arms. “How is he?”
“Sleeping. But he stirred a moment ago.”
“Good. I called Hughes to bring the men up and secure our path as we go down the mountain. He should be here any minute.”
She looked around the glade. “Where’s Judd?”
“He left. He was probably afraid to face a mother’s wrath.”
“He should be,” she said grimly. “I may still go after him and murder the bastard.”
“He wouldn’t blame you.” He handed her the jacket he’d draped over his arm. “He left you this. He said you mustn’t scare Barry.”
“I’ll do what I—” She glanced down at her bloodstained clothes. “Shit.” She grabbed the jacket and put it on. “Let’s get out of here. I don’t know if your shot alerted any rangers or campers, but I don’t want to find out.”
“I didn’t fire that shot. I was very busy disposing of Gomez. He was better than I expected.”
“Judd?”
“More than likely. He was perched up in a tree like a bloody angel of death.”
She looked back at Chavez. “It was a close moment. I was countering his move, but I might not have been fast enough. He distracted Chavez.”
“But didn’t take him out. He said you needed to do that.”
So many deaths. Dominic, Luis, Forbes … Chavez had poisoned her life for years and threatened her child. Yes, she had needed to do it herself. But she resented the fact that Judd had recognized that about her. “I don’t want any favors from him.”
“You’ll have to accept that one. It’s probably the only reason I didn’t strangle him.”
She shook her head. “You like him. In spite of everything, you still like him. You grabbed at the excuse.”
He grimaced ruefully. “Maybe.”
“I can’t forgive him. He took my child.”
“No one expects you to.” His arms tightened around the little boy. “There’s Hughes coming into the glade. Let’s go. I think Barry’s starting to wake up.”
It wasn’t until they were only a few miles from the cottage that Barry roused in her arms. “Mama?”
“Yes, baby. You okay?”
“Sleepy.” He yawned. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
He looked at Galen. “Hi, Galen. I saw so many things. So many wonderful things …”
“That’s good, Barry.”
“Where’s Judd?”
“He had to go away on business. He told me to say good-bye.”
“Oh.” Barry’s face fell with disappointment. “When will he come back?”
“I don’t know. We’re going to do some traveling ourselves.”
Elena looked at him. “We are?”
“It’s a surprise for your mother too.” Galen gazed meaningfully at Elena. “There may be some stormy weather around here. We need to absent ourselves until the disturbance settles down.”
Elena nodded slowly. They didn’t know what kind of repercussions might result from the killing of Chavez and his men. There was little loyalty among the drug hierarchy, but it would be smart to take precautions.
“I think we all need a beach, and I know a place in the Bahamas that will fit the bill,” Galen said.
“I like it at the cottage.” Barry frowned. “And I’m kind of tired of traveling around.”
“I bet you are.” Elena hugged him. “But the cottage doesn’t belong to us. We can’t stay there forever.”
“Will Dominic go with us?”
She was silent a moment. How much longer before she had to tell him that he would never have his Dominic again? Not now. Not until he was more secure. “No, Dominic won’t be going with us.”
“Why not? He told me he’d take me to the shore sometime. He said he really had fun at the beach in Miami.”
“He has something else to do now.” Elena blinked back the tears. “But he’d want you to enjoy yourself. He likes to see you happy.”
Barry nodded. “Maybe he’ll come later. He told me once that he’d always be with us.”
She felt Galen grasp her arm for an instant, then release it, and comfort flowed through her at that silent support.
“It’s true. He’ll never really go away.” She cleared her throat. “You